How about I ask this question - was the Iraq War worth it in hindsight and if so, what tangible benefit do we (USA) have to offset the cost in US lives, US suffering (disabled vets, mourning families), and US treasure?
Asking it this way to take the hapless and unmourned Iraqi civilians off the table for consideration, whether ten, ten thousand, or a million.
Getting the two bad leaders was a good thing. It would have been better to use spies or targeted moves. To consider “nation-building” was dumb, but now we should know that for the future. You can’t expect more from a people who are not willing to fight for it for themselves.
That part, and the years around it, was stupid. I would have gotten their oil and given a share back until our costs were all recovered.